Goloubef, 23, appeared in 11 games with the Blue Jackets in 2013, having made his NHL debut in 2011-12.

A former University of Wisconsin standout that played alongside new Jackets scout Blake Geoffrion with the Badgers, Goloubef was taken in the second round (37th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, one spot ahead of Nashville’s Roman Josi (who, earlier this summer, inked a seven-year, $28 million extension with the Preds.)

Goloubef has spent most of his professional career with Columbus’ AHL affiliate in Springfield. He’ll have a decent shot of making the Jackets’ roster next season, as the club currently has just seven defensemen under contract and don’t appear primed to bring back veteran Adrian Aucoin, who is still an unrestricted free agent.

Negotiations between Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and Bobrovsky’s agent, Paul Theofanous, have not gained traction. There is good reason for this: Theofanous wants to wait, and it behooves him to do so.

Bobrovsky will be worth more if he wins the Vezina and/or receives an offer sheet from another team and/or receives an offer from SKA St. Petersburg — which might be offering something in the range of $10 million annually.

Bobrovsky is just 24 years old and coming out of his first contract, but he is set up to get a third-contract payday. All he has to do is sit tight past July 5 and the market will do the rest.

Arace also notes that Kekalainen is on record saying he’ll match any offer sheet made to his goalie.

Translation: If Bobrovsky plays in North America next year, it’ll be in Columbus.

The real question is how much the Blue Jackets are willing to spend. They’re currently $19 million under next year’s $64.3 million cap with 16 players signed, but do have a few decisions to make (most notably with RFA forward Artem Anisimov and veteran UFAs Vinny Prospal and Adrian Aucoin).

In terms of comparables, Bobrovsky could be looking a deal similar to what Jaroslav Halak got in St. Louis in 2010.

Then a 25-year-old RFA, Halak signed a four-year, $15 million deal with the Blues — and it’s worth noting Bobrovsky’s current situation is a lot like Halak’s, in that both would cash in on a season of excellence.

Halak got his deal on the heels of a stellar 2009-10 campaign, when he went 26-13-5 with a .924 save percentage and 2.40 GAA during the regular season, then starred in the postseason by carrying the underdog Canadiens all the way to the Eastern Conference finals.

Bobrovsky was brilliant again last night in a 1-0 shootout loss to the Canucks in Vancouver. The 24-year-old stopped all 34 shots he faced in 65 minutes and was named the game’s first star for his efforts.

With his third shutout of the season, Bobrovsky’s save percentage rose all the way to .930, second among those with at least 10 starts to Ottawa’s injured netminder, Craig Anderson (.952).

Jackets defenseman Adrian Aucoin certainly appreciates what Bobrovsky has done for the team.

“It just makes less pressure for everybody else,” Aucoin said recently, per NHL.com. “You get that confidence where even if you give up a two-on-one, you have a feeling he’ll make that save. You’re never worried about him so you worry about the things that matter more to you. … It’s a luxury to have guys you can count on.”

At a cost of three draft picks, Bobrovsky was traded to Columbus in June from Philadelphia. Unfortunately for since-fired general manager Scott Howson, the move came at least a year too late. If Howson had successfully addressed his team’s goaltending the previous summer, instead of rolling the dice with Steve Mason, the nightmare season of 2011-12 would likely have gone quite differently.

At the very least, Howson can say he landed a Vezina candidate for the Jackets.

“I watched the replay, and it was surreal,” Wisniewski said yesterday after returning to practice. “For one thing, I had no idea I was down on the ice that long. When I walked in (the dressing room), I didn’t really recognize the place.”

Wisniewski suffered the third (known) concussion of his career on the play and having him back practicing is important for the Jackets given the other injuries they’re dealing with on defense. Adrian Aucoin and John Moore are out of action and while it’s nice to have Jack Johnson playing more than 30 minutes a game to make up for the losses, that’s not optimal for keeping him fresh.